Ground Rod For Ham Radio Field Day Operations

With ARRL Field Day 2016 around the corner and we needed a decent ground for our balloon lifted long wire, also to provide a decent RF ground for our setup. I have seen the local electric company use temporary T-handle safety ground rods for line work. I modeled this project after one of the utility safety ground rods. It’s fairly easy to build and cost about $12

Parts:

5 foot 1/2″ copper pipe

1/2″ copper pipe tee

Ground rod clamp that fits pipe

Soldier

Flux

Sand paper or emery cloth

Tools:

Tubing cutter

Propane torch

Hacksaw

Screw Driver

Pliers

Hammer

Safety:

Safety glasses

Gloves

Fire extinguisher

Well ventilated work area

Becarful of buried electrical lines and other utilities. You are shoving a large conductive rod into the ground an encounter with high voltage would be VERY BAD!

Instructions:

Cut two 6 inch pieces from the end of the 5 foot pipe with the tubing cutter

sand one end of each remaining pipe about 3/4 inches from the end to prepare for soldering

Apply flux and slide the 6 inch pieces into the flat top of the tee

Apply flux to one end of the remaining long piece of pipe and slide into the bottom of the tee

Use the propane torch to heat the connections and apply solder. If you have never sweat fit copper pipe check out this link https://youtu.be/_flPle6ttMc